CONTENTS
Editorial: Drop bears - the truth: conclusion.
Travel: Officine Universelle Buly.
Technology: Cut-Save Life.
Stationery: Calepino custom Les Typés notebooks.
Gadgets and Gear: ByBLVD Roam drawstring backpack.
Books and writing: Crestfallen issue #1
Project of the week: Ravine.
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EDITORIAL: Drop bears - conclusion
The story so far: PD had given MOTS an assignment to determine whether the legendary Australian drop bear is real or a myth. After venturing into the bush and making other enquiries MOTS has reported back and all of the evidence has been analysed. So is the drop bear real or not?
-
Drop bear photograph.
This appeared in part 1, PD issue 152. This looks like a koala. It is claimed that the two look alike but differ in their dentition, the drop bear having large incisors. -
Warning poster with the Australian Government coat of arms, from the Department of Dangerous Fauna Management. This appeared in part 2, PD issue 153.
Such a department could not be found. -
Scientific paper from "Australian Geographic" magazine. This also appeared in part 2, PD issue 153.
"Australian Geographic" is a well respected and authoritative publication. Readers who sought out the paper would have noticed this at the bottom of the article:
The link to the article is here:
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2013/04/drop-bears-target-tourists,-study-says/
- What about MOTS' images from his camera? While FOTS was enjoying herself on some great Pacific islands, MOTS "went bush", as Australians say. His photographs appeared in part 4, PD issue 155.
He did not find any drop bears. The drop bear in the photographs looks rather small, judging by the size of the leaves. People could argue that it is a baby bear. Botanists would realise that the leaves on the tree are not gum leaves. Koalas (and drop bears if they exist) only live in gum (Eucalypt) trees. The "drop bear" in the photograph looks cute.
- What about MOTS' traumatic episode? Well, that is for another story.
Conclusion: So are drop bears just a legend? Not quite. Yes, they are brought up as a joke, sometimes scaring students visiting from overseas, however as with any legend there is an element of truth. Fossil evidence shows that Australia did have large animals, some of which were carnivorous. One such animal was the Thylacoleo, which lived during the last Ice Age. The skeleton resembles that of the modern koala. You can see it at the Naracoorte Caves National Park in South Australia.
[Photograph: National Parks South Australia]
You can learn more about this creature here:
http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/09/australias-real-drop-bear/
For the curious 1: The koala is a marsupial unrelated to bears, despite being commonly referred to as a "koala bear".
For the curious 2: MOTS has fully recovered and is well, and will continue in his role as PD's man-on-the-spot in the Asia-Pacific region. In fact, he has contributed to the Travel section.
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TRAVEL: Officine Universelle Buly
Would you travel half way around the world just to go to a particular shop? If that shop was Officine Universelle Buly you probably would.
[Above: Paris store].
In 1803 the perfumer Jean-Vincent Bully established a shop in 1803 on rue Saint-Honoré in Paris and established a good reputation for himself by inventing "Bully vinegar". The firm was liquidated during the revolution of 1830. It was taken over by another firm and legal battles ensued, however various products continued to be sold until 1939.
[Above: original shop].
The firm lay dormant until 2014, when Victoire de Taillac and Ramdane Touhami relaunched it under the name Officine Universelle Buly (note the single "l" in the new name) with a beautiful store at 6, rue Bonaparte 75006 Paris.
[Above: Paris]
Selling top quality products with an old world feel, the new company flourished, and now has stores not only in Paris but also in London, New York and various Asian cities. Each store has that old world charm but each is different, so PD is tempted to do a tour at some stage and experience them all.
[Above: Taipei]
[Above: Hong Kong]
ou can order the products on line but then you would miss out on the experience of visiting these beautiful stores.
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TECHNOLOGY: Cut-Save Life
A major car accident is not something that anyone would want, however we have to be prepared in case of one. One crucial element is the ability to either quickly escape a vehicle or for rescuers to be able to evacuate occupants quickly. Research has shown that seat belts were one of the majour advances that saves lives in vehicle crashes. However, sometimes in an accident the release mechanism jams. Seat belt cutters are not new and many motorists carry one in their vehicles, but it is not practical to fumble around hoping to reach or find it. This is where the Cut-Save Life comes in.
Designed by Kim Insu, the Cut-Save Life is attached to the seat belt. In case of emergency, simple pull out the pin and pull the ring.
Simply brilliant. This concept has won a Red Dot Design award. PD hopes that it will be put into production.
http://www.red-dot.sg/en/cut-save-life/
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STATIONERY: Calepino custom Les Typés notebooks.
Calepino has appeared on PD more than once before. These notebooks are amongst PD's favourites, because of the quality of the materials and workmanship. Recently Calepino has released some new products, including the A5, 160 page Les Typés notebooks.
These notebooks come in a wide range of colours and you can choose from blank, ruled, grid and dot grid paper.
The notebooks have a double storage pocket in the back.
They are also customisable, not only with respect to colour and paper type, but you can also specify what you would like printed on the cover.
You can even add a message on the first page.
https://calepino.fr/en/product/les-types/
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
GADGETS AND GEAR: ByBLVD Roam drawstring backpack
Drawstring backpacks are very convenient for short trips. They are easily packed in your luggage when traveling, as they take little space, and are handy to use at your destination. This backpack has features that set it apart from others.
For a start, there are shoulder pads, for greater comfort.
PD thinks that the greatest advantage that this bag has is in its security features. It is made from slash and tear resistant fabric, and there is a steel reinforced lockable strap.
There are other features, such as RFID blocking pockets and an external USB charging port.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1031972886/worlds-most-comfortablemultifunctional-drawstring
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
BOOKS AND WRITING: Crestfallen issue #1
A nobleman, an assassin, a barbarian, a slave and a strange hermit are forced upon a journey in a world set aflame.
Written by Kris Dybeck and illustrated by Luka Cakic, this comic book is the first in the series.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1240708921/crestfallen-issue-1/description
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PROJECT OF THE WEEK: Ravine
This is a card game to take on your travels, especially if you are flying. After all, card games are compact (and do not require batteries) and therefore ideal to carry with you. Until you realise that this is a card game that assumes your plane has crashed on a desert island.
You play with your fellow travelers in an attempt to survive until rescue arrives. You have to forage for food, build a fire, build a shelter, and you can even go crazy, just like in the 1960s television show Gilligan's Island. Hopefully, unlike them, you will get rescued sooner than they did.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mathewsisson/ravine
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
Contact Prowling Dog at prowlingdog@protonmail.com
Important disclaimer: Remember that crowdfunding sites are not stores. You may decide to back this project and provide funds, however there is no guarantee that any project will be delivered - the rate of failure is about 10%. PD is in no way accountable for the success or otherwise of any project and writes in this column purely for entertainment purposes, and will in no way be held liable for any failure or money lost by anyone. It is a case of "buyer beware". It is a sad reflection on the era we live in that PD must resort to this type of disclaimer.
Note: Photographs and illustrations are from the relevant websites and are the copyright of the respective owners.
© 2017 Prowling Dog